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Monica Lewinsky's developed thick skin over the years ... but the prospect of Sarah Paulson playing Linda Tripp in "Impeachment: American Crime Story" apparently shook her up.

Lewinsky spoke with Paulson on Thursday's episode of her "Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky" podcast, and she admitted there were a few moments she "panicked" while the show, which aired in 2021, was in development.

In 1997, Tripp secretly recorded hours of conversations with Lewinsky. Tripp worked at the Pentagon, and Lewinsky had been a White House intern ... the two were 24 years apart in age.

Tripp gave the recordings to investigators during a legal probe of President Bill Clinton. Tripp and Lewinsky had discussed among other things the infamous blue dress that had presidential DNA on it from a sexual encounter with the intern.

MTV's Justina Valentine stopped by TMZ's "Previously On..." podcast studio to break down the bombshell cancellation of the network's reality show "Ridiculousness" ... and she tells us she just hopes this decision doesn't put her own show up next on the chopping block.

The rapping reality star -- who sweeps the floor on MTV's "Wild 'N Out" rap battle reality show -- called the recent move "an end of an era" for the network ... pointing out the show has been one of MTV’s most consistent staples for years, alongside her own network gem.

Catch the clip ... Valentine says she's had the honor to be a part of many MTV legacy shows -- jokingly saying she missed the mark for "16 and Pregnant" -- but "Ridiculousness" was one of the hit shows with the best reply value ... similar to what Chanel West Coast had said regarding the cancellation.

It's finally that time of the year again, folks ... BravoCon's going down this weekend, and we're just as excited as you are!

You already know we're looking forward to all the drama set to go down over the course of the convention's five days ... so let's take a look back at some of our favorite moments from past BravoCons.

Rapper Justina Valentine was Wild 'N Out in the TMZ newsroom Thursday ... freestyling a certified banger for Harvey and Charles.

Watch the video ... Valentine had us turnt up, with a 10 out of 10 off-the-cuff rap.

We really shouldn't expect anything less ... she's spent nearly a decade coming up with improvised raps on "Wild 'N Out."

Winning the top prize on "Dancing with the Stars" is usually a big deal for celebs ... but not for Bobby Bones, who revealed Wednesday he sent the Mirrorball trophy back to ABC.

FYI ... the radio host competed on the show's 27th season back in 2018, when he was paired with Sharna Burgess, and they ended up winning the top prize at the end of the season.

Bobby said he decided to let go of the Mirrorball trophy after former "DWTS" host Tom Bergeron spoke to Parade earlier this month and said he was "shocked" when Bobby came out on top of the other contestants. Tom felt other contestants' performances were superior to Bobby's.

Zachery Ty Bryan is speaking out following his latest instance of domestic violence ... calling the situation a "painful wake-up call."

The "Home Improvement" alum tells TMZ he's on a "journey toward personal growth" and that he is taking full accountability for his previous violent actions. -- and discusses his latest brush with the law.

As we reported, the woman was granted a 5-year restraining order Wednesday after she made allegations to police that Zach physically and verbally abused her in July, but no criminal charges have been filed to date.

Zach says he "deeply" regrets any pain or harm he's caused, noting ... "domestic violence in any form is unacceptable."

We'll never look at the Lincoln Bedroom the same ... "South Park" absolutely lacerated Donald Trump and his VP JD Vance in last night's episode, depicting the two using the White House's private guest suite for a graphic homoerotic rendezvous.

In the episode, Vance avoids getting shafted for treason ... and ends up getting the shaft from his boss after a soak in a hot tub.

In one particularly shocking moment, they both lie bare-chested in an apparent post-coital glow when JD proposes they go for another round.

Watch the video if you dare ... they really go at it.

As if Swifties weren't swooning enough ... Travis Kelce is featured in Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour docuseries -- and has a major stamp of approval from her mom!

Check out the official trailer for "The End of an Era" -- there's no hiding Trav and Tay's love as the singer's mother, Andrea Swift, gushes over the NFL star ... saying he "brings happiness" to their lives.

There's also an adorable moment that documents the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and "Fate of Ophelia" singer on the phone, drawing similarities within each other's lives.

Will Ferrell is taking a brief breather from his new Netflix golf comedy ... 'cause a minor injury has put him on the sidelines ... TMZ has learned.

Production sources tell TMZ ... the actor recently suffered an injury off set, and while it wasn't serious, it was enough to keep him from filming scenes scheduled this week at the Bicycle Casino just outside Los Angeles.

It's unclear exactly how or where Will got hurt, but we're told the issue made it impossible for him to shoot the planned material safely or comfortably this week. Producers have temporarily rearranged the schedule while he recovers.

Cleto Escobedo III had one of those careers not too many people get to enjoy -- because he worked alongside one of his childhood friends, Jimmy Kimmel, for many years.

However, the musician's stint as the late-night show host's bandleader came to an abrupt end in 2025 when he unexpectedly died.

We're going to take a look back at the saxophone player's history with Kimmel and see how his career in showbiz played out.

Escobedo was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father was a saxophone player who worked at Caesar's Palace as a busboy.

Escobedo and Kimmel -- who moved with his parents from Brooklyn, New York, to Las Vegas at an early age -- met when the comedian's family settled across the street from his future bandleader.

The pair grew incredibly close over the years, and Kimmel described their close connection as a "lifetime of friendship."

The musician started playing saxophone at an early age, and he later attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, although he ended up focusing on his musical career, according to The New York Times.

Escobedo started his career by playing gigs at various venues on the Las Vegas Strip before he was asked to join Paula Abdul's touring band in 1990.

He eventually landed a record deal with Virgin Records, and he also toured with artists like Marc Anthony and Luis Miguel.

Escobedo was touring with Anthony when Kimmel asked him to serve as his band leader, and the comedian had to take ABC's higher-ups to see his childhood friend play live to convince them of his musical chops.

Escobedo served as Kimmel's band leader for over two decades, and he invited his father to join his band.

Kimmel announced Escobedo's death in a post on his Instagram account in November 2025.

Details about the exact cause of the saxophone player's death were not immediately released.

Kimmel paid a lengthy tribute to Escobedo during his show on November 11th, and he became visibly emotional.

Jen Affleck -- 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star and recent "Dancing with the Stars" contestant -- is sharing her thoughts on costar Whitney Leavitt's performance in the competition ... telling us her money is actually on hunky wildlife expert Robert Irwin.

We caught up with the cast of Hulu’s hit show as they gear up for a fiery Season 3 -- and when asked if Whitney could take the crown, all eyes were on Jen ... who reveals to us that even though Whitney is the best dancer on the show, she chooses to root for Robert.

Jen unfortunately got booted from this season -- sparking some beef with remaining 'SLOMW' contestant Whitney -- so her choosing the Australian sweetheart rather than her own costar remains on brand.

"The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Mary Cosby and the church she runs with her husband, Robert Cosby Sr., are back in the spotlight ... this time accused of being a full-blown cult, according to a bombshell new TLC doc.

TMZ’s got your first look at the wild new trailer -- the three-parter dives deep into Mary’s eyebrow-raising marriage to her step-grandfather, Robert Cosby Sr., and the misconduct claims that dragged Faith Temple Pentecostal Church into one seriously controversial new chapter.

The docuseries gives the mic to former church members breaking their silence for the first time -- including longtime insiders of Faith Temple -- plus a top cult expert who lays out how tactics of control and loyalty enforcement can keep followers in line.

We want you to be a part of TMZ, so every weekday, between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM PT, we take you inside our newsroom via live stream.

You never know what you're gonna get ... a big story that breaks, an argument erupts in the room, or someone's just joking around.

Your comments are a big part of the stream, and the staff spends a lot of time speaking directly to you. Every day is different!

Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears as he honored his late friend and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" band leader Cleto Escobedo III during Tuesday night's show, just hours after announcing his shocking death.

Check out the heartfelt tribute -- the late night TV host remembered Cleto not only as an impressive musician who was a staple to the show for over 2 decades, but as one of his closest friends.

Jimmy recalled meeting Cleto and automatically clicking with him after his parents moved their family from Brooklyn, New York to Las Vegas, Nevada when he was a kid. He said they were like brothers, basically inseparable -- and even claimed he once slept over Cleto's house "33 nights in a row."

Mynie Steffens -- a cookbook author and cooking show host -- is dead after her helicopter flew into powerlines and crashed into a South African farm ... according to multiple local reports.

The beloved TV chef died Monday ... she was flying the chopper over her own farm and spraying pesticides on her oranges, according to the outlet Cape Argus.

Steffens reportedly flew into powerlines just before 8 AM local time before the helicopter went down ... which ended with the craft "substantially damaged due to impact force," according to the country's Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division.

There were plenty of big names at Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party this past Saturday -- do the names Oprah Winfrey or Mark Zuckerberg ring any bells? -- but the party had an unlikely guest in the form of her plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven Levine, reports Page Six.

What's more is a snap featuring Dr. Levine was included in a set of photos from the party Kris shared on her Instagram account on Monday, and he seemed pretty stoked to have been invited to the blowout bash.

Dr. Levine and Kris had first been linked back in May, when the matriarch of the Kardashian family's fans began noticing her looks had been updated ... tastefully, of course.